Fine snowflakes had somehow turned into whirling goose-feather snow, silently blanketing Holder City's dilapidated rooftops and muddy streets.
"Crunch... crunch..."
Four figures walked across the deep snow, the sounds beneath their feet swallowed by the soft snowpack, leaving them somewhat muffled.
"Phew—hah—"
He Xi tucked both hands into his sleeves, shivering as he breathed warm air into them while walking.
Like a silent shadow, Trist quietly followed behind him, completely unaffected by the freezing weather.
Bruce, meanwhile, stopped from time to time to shake the snow off his body before scurrying after the group again.
Annis pulled the clearly ill-fitting cloak tighter around herself and cautiously trailed along at the rear.
The cloak still carried a crisp scent of grass and leaves. Mingling with the cold wind after the snowfall, it cleared her weak, muddled head a little.
This person didn't look like the sort to carry a scented pouch, either...
She couldn't help raising her head and secretly studying the figure ahead, his neck hunched in, his back looking so frail it seemed as though a gust of wind could knock him down.
He walked slowly, shoulders slightly hunched, his entire body giving off the feeling of "I'm freezing, I'm about to turn into ice."
This idiot...
...He was obviously so afraid of the cold, yet he still gave me his only cloak.
The instant that thought crossed her mind, Annis's heartbeat inexplicably skipped half a beat. Her cheeks grew slightly warm, chasing away some of the chill.
Just then, that "frail" figure ahead suddenly stopped and turned around.
"Hey.
"Hm?
Startled, Annis instinctively straightened her back.
"Didn't you say you could walk already? Walking that slowly, are you planning to take another nap in the snow?" He Xi frowned, his tone somewhat impatient. "Come walk beside me."
Annis